198: Chapter 198 The New Righteous Path Alliance

Seven days after Li Changsheng's departure, the Qingxin Pavilion welcomed a group of special guests.

They were representatives from over a dozen small Sects located throughout Yunzhou.

Some only had a Foundation Establishment Stage cultivation, while others were even at the Qi Refining Stage.

Dressed in various styles of clothing and carrying all sorts of Magical Artifacts, they entered the Qingxin Pavilion's mountain gate in small groups.

Expectation and apprehension were written on every face.

Su Qinghan stood at the mountain gate to personally welcome them.

"Fellow Daoists, you have traveled far. Thank you for your hard work."

The representatives of the small Sects returned the greeting one after another, uttering phrases like "I wouldn't dare" and "it is an honor."

Standing behind Su Qinghan, Su Qianxue watched these people as a complex surge of emotions welled up in her heart.

Ordinarily, these small Sects each minded their own business and had little to do with one another.

Some had even had frictions over competing for resources.

Now, however, they had gathered together because of a common enemy.

Was this the "Righteous Path Alliance" Li Changsheng had spoken of?

She didn't know.

But she knew that this was a beginning.

Inside the main hall, seats had already been arranged.

Su Qinghan sat in the seat of honor, with Li Changsheng on her left and Qin Hao on her right.

The representatives of the other small Sects took their seats in order.

Before the meeting began, Su Qinghan spoke first.

"Fellow Daoists, I have called you all here today to discuss a certain matter."

She paused, her gaze sweeping across everyone present.

"You are all aware of Ling Cang's ambition; he is bent on unifying Yunzhou. Those who follow him prosper, while those who oppose him perish."

"You have all seen the fate of the Jinyang Sect. You have also seen the fate of the Qingxin Pavilion."

A silence fell over the hall.

Su Qinghan continued.

"If we continue to fight our own separate battles, he will eventually pick us off one by one. Only by uniting can we find a way to survive."

A middle-aged man stood up and said,

"Pavilion Master Su is right. Our Qingfeng Fortress is willing to join forces with the Qingxin Pavilion."

Then an old man stood up and said,

"Our Qingyun Sect is also willing."

"Our Broken Stone Camp is willing too!"

"And us!"

For a moment, everyone voiced their support.

Su Qinghan nodded and said,

"Good. Since that is the case, we shall formally establish an Alliance."

She looked toward Li Changsheng.

Li Changsheng stood up and walked to the center of the hall.

"Fellow Daoists," he began, his voice not loud but clearly reaching everyone's ears.

"This Alliance shall be called the 'New Righteous Alliance'."

The New Righteous Alliance.

The name left everyone present momentarily stunned.

"New Righteous Path... what does that mean?"

someone asked.

Li Changsheng looked at him and said slowly,

"Because what we pursue is the true Righteous Path."

"Not the pseudo-Righteous Path of Ling Cang, who acts with hegemony under the banner of righteousness."

"But the true Dao that protects the weak, upholds conscience, and does not slaughter the innocent."

He paused, emphasizing every word:

"This Alliance does not exist for dominance, nor for power."

"It exists only to survive, to protect our homes, and to ensure that our descendants are no longer bullied by ambitious men like Ling Cang."

In the audience, some began to tear up.

The middle-aged man from Qingfeng Fortress had bloodshot eyes as he tightly clenched his fists.

Small Sects like theirs had been oppressed by Qinglan for far too long.

No one had spoken for them; no one had stood up for them.

Now, finally, someone had stepped forward.

"Fellow Daoist Li, you are right!" he shouted. "We must walk our own Righteous Path!"

"Right! The New Righteous Alliance! We support it!"

"Support!"

Emotions ran high.

Seeing this scene, a flicker of relief passed through Su Qinghan's eyes.

She stood up and raised her hand to quiet the crowd.

"Since that's the case, let us formally nominate an Alliance Leader."

She looked at Li Changsheng and said,

"I propose that Li Changsheng serve as the Alliance Leader."

Li Changsheng was taken aback and quickly waved his hands.

"No, Pavilion Master Su, you are at the Nascent Soul Stage and have the highest prestige..."

Su Qinghan interrupted him, saying,

"High prestige does not necessarily mean one is suited to be the Alliance Leader."

"You need to Cultivate, you need to fight, and you need to coordinate the overall situation. I, on the other hand, can assist you."

She looked at the people below and asked,

"What do you all think?"

The representatives of the small Sects looked at each other and then nodded one after another.

"Although Fellow Daoist Li is young, his Heart-Nature is firm and his combat strength is formidable. We trust him!"

"Right! It shall be Fellow Daoist Li!"

Seeing those trusting gazes, a warm current welled up in Li Changsheng's heart.

He took a deep breath and nodded.

"Fine. I accept."

He paused and then added,

"However, Pavilion Master Su is highly respected and should serve as the Honorary Alliance Leader. We shall deliberate together on all major matters."

Su Qinghan smiled slightly and nodded.

"Then it is settled."

After the Alliance was established, the following days became exceptionally busy.

Recruiting men and horses, accumulating strength, gathering intelligence, and setting up defensive lines.

Li Changsheng was so busy every day that his feet hardly touched the ground, but he did not complain.

Because this was his responsibility.

That evening, he stood before the mountain gate of the Qingxin Pavilion, gazing at the undulating mountains in the distance, silently calculating in his mind.

The Alliance currently had over two hundred Disciples from the Qingxin Pavilion, over thirty survivors from the Jinyang Sect, and about three hundred Disciples from the small Sects combined.

The total force was less than six hundred.

Meanwhile, the Qinglan Sword Sect had three thousand Disciples, dozens at the Golden Core Stage, and at least four or five at the Nascent Soul Stage.

The disparity in strength was vast.

But he did not retreat.

He turned around, looking at the Disciples who were training and the busy figures, and a surge of strength rose in his heart.

As long as they were united, there was no battle that couldn't be won.

He took a deep breath and turned to walk back to his Immortal Cave.

Cultivation could not stop.

He needed to break through to the Middle Golden Core stage.

At the same time, in Ling Cang's palace on the Main Peak of the Qinglan Sword Sect.

Ling Cang sat in the seat of honor, his expression terrifyingly gloomy.

Kneeling before him were two Elders at the Early Nascent Soul Stage.

"New Righteous Alliance?"

He spoke each word slowly, his voice filled with murderous intent. "Good, very good."

He stood up and walked to the window, looking in the direction of the Qingxin Pavilion.

"Pass down the order: assemble two thousand Disciples. Led by the two of you, head to the Qingxin Pavilion and completely wipe out this so-called Alliance."

The two Elders exchanged a glance and said in unison, "Yes!"

Ling Cang turned around, a cold light flashing in his eyes.

"Li Changsheng, do you think that just because you formed a core, you can contend with me?"

He gave a cold laugh.

"Naive."

In a hidden valley far away, several figures in black robes were gathered together.

The leader was a middle-aged man with a sinister face and an Early Nascent Soul Stage cultivation.

He looked at the intelligence in his hand, a strange smile curling his lips.

"New Righteous Alliance... how interesting."

Behind him, a black-robed Disciple asked,

"Envoy, should we take action?"

The middle-aged man shook his head and said,

"No rush. Let them fight first. We'll act when both sides are exhausted."

He looked toward the Qingxin Pavilion, a hint of greed flashing in his eyes.

"The truth about the Blood Fiend Sect... heh, that is a big business deal."

He turned and vanished into the darkness.

The black-robed figures behind him also disappeared.

Silence returned to the valley.

On the fifteenth day after the Alliance was formed, the army of the Qinglan Sword Sect reached the outskirts of the Qingxin Pavilion.

Early that morning, Li Changsheng was cultivating in his Immortal Cave when he suddenly heard a series of urgent bell tolls.

He snapped his eyes open, grabbed the qingshuang sword, and rushed out of his cave.

At the mountain gate, Su Qinghan was already standing there, her expression solemn.

Behind her, the Alliance Disciples were urgently assembling; some were still buckling their belts, others were still wiping their swords, but every face bore a look of determination.

"How many have come?"

Li Changsheng walked to her side and asked.

Su Qinghan replied,

"Two thousand. Led by two Early Nascent Soul Stage Elders."

Li Changsheng's heart sank slightly.

Two thousand against six hundred.

A disparity in force of more than three times.

But he did not panic.

He turned to look at the assembling Disciples and shouted loudly,

"Everyone, the people from Qinglan are here. They have two thousand men, and we have only six hundred. But are you afraid?"

The Disciples looked at him and shouted in unison, "We are not afraid!"

Li Changsheng nodded and said,

"Good. Then let them see what the true Righteous Path is."

He began to arrange the defensive lines.